A murder has taken place at Cafe Noir and the person behind it could be one of many colorful characters.

Could it be the spoiled rich girl who works at the cafe or could it be the black market dealer? Maybe it’s the “seller of spells” or the French club manager or the British attorney? Or possibly the voodoo priestess.

These are some of the options the audience at Pure Artistry Literary Cafe will have when trying to identify the killer during “Murder at Cafe Noir,” a mystery dinner show taking place next weekend. Ticket sales end Oct. 23 for the four performances, running from Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

The play, originally from David Landau, will be directed locally by Ray Hatch, a man with multiple titles in the theater world. He has been a director and a choreographer as well as an actor.

Hatch said being in Montgomery is different than what he’s used to, noticing the local theater community is still a small one.

“But I am very tickled with the cast that we have gotten,” Hatch said. “I feel that we’ve gotten the cream of the crop.”

There are nine total cast members in this production, including two understudies. Most are local but a couple have come from Birmingham and Tuskegee.

Hatch said he hopes the actors “raise the bar” to the point where those who see the play - and those who miss out - will want to come back. And that would be a good mindset to have as next weekend’s productions are scheduled to be the first in a three-part series.

Monique Dennis, event producer at the venue, said they plan on doing the second part to this production in 2016 and the third in 2017. “Murder at Cafe Noir” serves as the fourth theatrical production at Pure Artistry, a venue that opened in April 2011 and has become locally known for open mic nights and poetry readings.

“Next year we may do two productions and increase gradually,” Dennis said. “We’ll probably do one in the fall of next year, it just really depends on the other events we have.”

Dennis said while they have served dinner before a production in the past, this is the first dinner theater they’ve put on. Guests will watch the play unfold in front of them while eating a salad, chicken pasta pie and a dessert that includes homemade ice cream with a cookie bottom.

The production itself will also take on the vibe of an old-timey black and white “noir” film set in the 40s, with Dennis saying it is based off the movie “Casablanca.”

With the audience sitting at tables in the middle of the action, those in charge of setting up the production have faced unique tasks.

“We have to think of where the audience will be,” said Debrika Wright Person, assistant stage manager. “You don’t want to give all the attention to one part of the room. You want to make everyone feel like they are a part of what’s going on.”

If the audience enjoys the experience half as much as the cast is enjoying putting on the show, it will be a guaranteed good time.

“We find ourselves having to reel in the cast sometimes because it gets so funny,” Dennis said.

Nicholas Sylvester has had a great time playing Anthony Cairo, a black market dealer who has had to change his ways.

“I’ve never been a part of anything like this,” Sylvester said. “Once I heard of it I thought it might be interesting. Once the cast was put together and we started rehearsing I knew we were onto something.”

Hatch agrees about the positive sentiments regarding the cast and crew. And he’s counting on others feeling the same.

“I want people that didn’t come to be like ‘dang, I missed it,’” he said. “We want people knocking down the door trying to get in.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: “Murder at Cafe Noir”

WHEN: Oct. 30 - 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 - 2 and 8 p.m.; Nov. 1 - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Pure Artistry Literary Cafe, 142 W Jeff Davis Ave

ADMISSION: Note: Oct. 23 is the last day for ticket sales. Tickets range from $40 to $50. For tickets visit eventbrite.com and search for Murder at Cafe Noir or email tickets@palitcafe.com.